What/Who influenced/inspired you to join up?
senojekips
Active member
I'm retired and have been so for many years, but for what it's worth, I feel that those who tell you they joined up on patriotic grounds, "to do their duty" etc., are romancing themselves, as of all my mates and acquaintances I don't think that was ever the reason they joined.*
In my own case, I was being a typical teenager and going though that rebellious stage where I wouldn't apply myself to my schoolwork (I was plenty capable enough), and I was giving my parents persistent low level grief, wagging school and otherwise making life miserable for all those in any sort of authority about me.
During a teacher/parent interview the headmaster of my school bought up the suggestion that what I really needed was a stint in the Military, however that was problematic as I was only 14 years old at the time. My parents agreed, although I'm sure that the idea disturbed them a bit,... so of course being the little b@rstard that I was, I immediately set my heart on it.
Now at that time the Royal Australian Navy had just introduced a new form of entry, the Junior Recruit, for boys aged 15 years. By the time I turned 15 I had probably driven my parents to distraction and they agreed to allow me to sit the entrance exam.
The rest is history,...
Other than that, I enjoyed my 12 years and had I not married would probably have stayed on until retirement.
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* Having said that, once I did join, I can honestly say that I willingly fulfilled my obligations and was very proud to serve my country, however I feel that "going on about it" is a sign of false pride. As far as I'm concerned, you sign on the dotted line, and then you do what is expected of you to the absolute best of your ability without complaint or the need or desire for recognition. If you can't do that, well,... you're prolly gunna be either, a bit disappointed, or a general pain in the @rse to all you come in contact with.
In my own case, I was being a typical teenager and going though that rebellious stage where I wouldn't apply myself to my schoolwork (I was plenty capable enough), and I was giving my parents persistent low level grief, wagging school and otherwise making life miserable for all those in any sort of authority about me.
During a teacher/parent interview the headmaster of my school bought up the suggestion that what I really needed was a stint in the Military, however that was problematic as I was only 14 years old at the time. My parents agreed, although I'm sure that the idea disturbed them a bit,... so of course being the little b@rstard that I was, I immediately set my heart on it.
Now at that time the Royal Australian Navy had just introduced a new form of entry, the Junior Recruit, for boys aged 15 years. By the time I turned 15 I had probably driven my parents to distraction and they agreed to allow me to sit the entrance exam.
The rest is history,...
Other than that, I enjoyed my 12 years and had I not married would probably have stayed on until retirement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Having said that, once I did join, I can honestly say that I willingly fulfilled my obligations and was very proud to serve my country, however I feel that "going on about it" is a sign of false pride. As far as I'm concerned, you sign on the dotted line, and then you do what is expected of you to the absolute best of your ability without complaint or the need or desire for recognition. If you can't do that, well,... you're prolly gunna be either, a bit disappointed, or a general pain in the @rse to all you come in contact with.
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m551sheridan
Active member
Hawk.......... I have not been affiliated with the military since 1987... I joined in 1969... I *am* one of those who felt it was their duty... my country was at war in Vietnam, I felt it was my duty to join (stories of my father and uncles played a big part)... Vietnam was the only war going on - I volunteered for VN for an odd reason - I wanted to see what war was like and how I would respond in that environment.
It took about .25 nano-seconds of my first contact to realize o'John Wayne lied... tis a very serious game that is played. I am glad I did this as my question was answered and I handled myself properly - but the downside is there is not much use for an Airborne Cavalryman who can hump a ruck out on the streets...
If you join try for a job skill you can use if/when you decide to leave the service. You will not miss anything if you do not see combat.
(final analysis? .... the men I served with in that arena were closer to me then any I can remember... we shared something unique - oddly I would do it all over again.)
It took about .25 nano-seconds of my first contact to realize o'John Wayne lied... tis a very serious game that is played. I am glad I did this as my question was answered and I handled myself properly - but the downside is there is not much use for an Airborne Cavalryman who can hump a ruck out on the streets...
If you join try for a job skill you can use if/when you decide to leave the service. You will not miss anything if you do not see combat.
(final analysis? .... the men I served with in that arena were closer to me then any I can remember... we shared something unique - oddly I would do it all over again.)
muscogeemike
Active member
I was drafted in 1966 and got out in 1968. I went back in the Army in 1970, honestly civilian life was boring - 8 to 5 just wasn’t for me. Most people think the military is tedious - I did not find my career to be routine. I served in several career fields and had many jobs. About half my career was overseas and I wish I could do it over again.
There were many bad times, though the memory of them has faded over the years and now I mostly just remember the good times (and there were a lot of those too). I never regretted my decision to go back in and highly recommend military service, especially for single people. Military life is hard on families.
There were many bad times, though the memory of them has faded over the years and now I mostly just remember the good times (and there were a lot of those too). I never regretted my decision to go back in and highly recommend military service, especially for single people. Military life is hard on families.
LeEnfield
Active member
Who the hell joined I was drafted, and in the UK that was tantamount as being sub human and the government rubbed salt into wound by only giving half pay as you were not classed as proper soldier. Yet most of these these improper soldiers wound up fighting and dieing all over the world in many small wars that many of you would never have heard of. My self I wound up in the Parachute Regiment fighting in Cyprus and was on the invasion Suez and I spent most of my two years in the forces on active service, so excuse folks when I hear todays soldiers saying that a six month tour every two years is exhausting.
See list below of of many of the conflicts that have been fought by the UK since WW2
http://www.britains-smallwars.com/main/index1.html
.
See list below of of many of the conflicts that have been fought by the UK since WW2
http://www.britains-smallwars.com/main/index1.html
.
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Der Alte
Banned
I was virtually born into the military since I grew up in the National Socialist Germany. As a 10 year old I went into the Deutsche Jungvolk which was a sub-organization of the National Socialist Hitler Youth, and had the same ideas about an Aryan ruler race and so-called Volksgemeinschaft, ie. peoples community in Germany. The organization was based on a militaristic vision and supported activities that would build up the young people's physical strength and vitality. Hitler Youth and Deutsche Jungvolk placed particular importance to teach children loyalty to Adolf Hitler, Nazi Germany and the new social system. And the age of 14 I went into the Hitlerjugend.
After education and training in the Hitler Youth it was a requirement that you continued into Waffen SS or Wehrmacht. You were from childhood trained to be a soldier and to know what a great honor it is to die on the battlefield. Membership in the Hitler Youth was mandatory of December 1936. From there my future was founded. The soldier was the new hero in Germany.
I wished to be an officer in the Waffen SS, but I did not have the qualities that were required at the time (Which I think is my luck today. Wondering what kind of monster I could have been). But I had shown leadership skills and was recommended for Army officers academy. After the war, I stood there without a profession. Everything I had learned was useless. I had a good job on my grandfather's farm, but I would not end my days as a farmer so when the new German Army was created and veterans were sought after, my fortune was made.
I have been a soldier all my life, it was my destiny and virtually the only option I had.
After education and training in the Hitler Youth it was a requirement that you continued into Waffen SS or Wehrmacht. You were from childhood trained to be a soldier and to know what a great honor it is to die on the battlefield. Membership in the Hitler Youth was mandatory of December 1936. From there my future was founded. The soldier was the new hero in Germany.
I wished to be an officer in the Waffen SS, but I did not have the qualities that were required at the time (Which I think is my luck today. Wondering what kind of monster I could have been). But I had shown leadership skills and was recommended for Army officers academy. After the war, I stood there without a profession. Everything I had learned was useless. I had a good job on my grandfather's farm, but I would not end my days as a farmer so when the new German Army was created and veterans were sought after, my fortune was made.
I have been a soldier all my life, it was my destiny and virtually the only option I had.
alessandro.pirisinu
Active member
Dear Sirs senojekips, m551sheridan, muscogeemike, LeEnfield, Der Alte
let me thank you for having written your experience as soldiers...
Very interesting to read, it leaves a great deal of respect for you and your life.
My experience was very very "little": I joined the army in 1994, I enroled in the school of antiaircraft artillery, I have been commissioned second lieutenant... but after few days in the Army I realised it was not my "road"...
As Der Alte Sir says "I think is my luck today"... I am a teacher of mathematics and I never forget my days in the Army... but my life was going somewhere else!!
Good day everybody
Alex
let me thank you for having written your experience as soldiers...
Very interesting to read, it leaves a great deal of respect for you and your life.
My experience was very very "little": I joined the army in 1994, I enroled in the school of antiaircraft artillery, I have been commissioned second lieutenant... but after few days in the Army I realised it was not my "road"...
As Der Alte Sir says "I think is my luck today"... I am a teacher of mathematics and I never forget my days in the Army... but my life was going somewhere else!!
Good day everybody
Alex
The Highway Man
Brit Pack 2I/C
I always wanted to join the police ever since I was a youngster. However I couldn't join as my dad had been a naughty boy so I had no chance of passing the vetting. I enjoyed listening to the tales of what he got up to when he served with the Royal Army Service Corps, so I thought I'd realise my ambition of joining the police by combining it with the army and joined the Royal Military Police where I served 7 years. I have fond memories of my time in the Corps and the skills I acquired as a RMP NCO helped me to get my current job as a Traffic Officer patrolling the motorway. 
senojekips
Active member
You did well Alessandro,... you tried it and realised it wasn't for you, so instead of staying on and making yourself and those about you miserable, you moved on to a better suited career where you have obviously done well..
It always made me wonder why the Services made it so hard for people to get out, that clearly were not suited to the job.
alessandro.pirisinu
Active member
Thank you, Senojekips Sir!!
I'll tell you more: my experience is now very "useful" to many of my students who are willing to join the Military Forces: one of them, my dear Friend Gianni, is now a (Lance) Corporal in the Army and partecipated to several ISAF missions in Afghanistan.
Apart him, there are many others who think about joining the Army or the Air Force just to have a job, as if the military were a 9-to-5-job...
So, I have to warn them and to explain their idea of military is somewhat distorted.
I always tell them my experience as an officer made me a better man and a better citizen than I was before, because I now appreciate values like Nation, Flag, Country, Respect, Commitment... but being in the military just for a salary is not so comfortable... and, you're right, it makes your life very miserable.
You say "why the Services made it so hard for people to get out, that clearly were not suited to the job"... I say they'd rather investigate the reasons why a boy/girl joins the military.
Have a good day, Sir (but if you live in Australia, it's deep in the night ;-) :m1
Alessandro
I wanted to become a fighter pilot in the Belgian Air Force but ended up as a radar operator (ECCM) of a Nike Hercules air defense system. After the disbandment of the Air defense units they send me to a Military school until that one was moved to Brussels. I didn't want to work over there so I quit the Air Force and worked in the financial sector for a while and then switched to a business in the hospitality sector. When I was 48 I sold everything I had in Belgium and went to Spain to enjoy life.
brinktk
Active member
I joined in June of 2001 as a PFC in the US Army. My motivataions may have been a little naive, I had always known that I wanted to be a soldier and I guess the idea of making a difference was the biggest factor in me joining.
Less than 2 years later I was fighting in Iraq and had a re-evaluation of why I was to continue my time in the military. Mainly, I have stayed on because I realize that I have the ability to save lives. I have the experience to keep people alive, not just my soldiers but those downrange whIo may get caught in the middle. I love leading soldiers and know with a certainty that I can handle the men when the chips are down and I can keep them focused when they're not.
There are times when I shake my head and wonder what the hell I have gottem myself into, but, for the most part, I have great memories of my time in the service. The greatest people I've ever known have been in the Army, there's a comradery and brotherhood that is rarely found outside the military...and that too keeps me drivin on.
Less than 2 years later I was fighting in Iraq and had a re-evaluation of why I was to continue my time in the military. Mainly, I have stayed on because I realize that I have the ability to save lives. I have the experience to keep people alive, not just my soldiers but those downrange whIo may get caught in the middle. I love leading soldiers and know with a certainty that I can handle the men when the chips are down and I can keep them focused when they're not.
There are times when I shake my head and wonder what the hell I have gottem myself into, but, for the most part, I have great memories of my time in the service. The greatest people I've ever known have been in the Army, there's a comradery and brotherhood that is rarely found outside the military...and that too keeps me drivin on.
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NP8901
Banned
Back in the late 70s I was something of an rascal. Joyriding and minor thefts was the order of the day. One day things went wrong and a mate was killed. I was the one who pulled him out of the wreck and I was the only one who remained on the spot until the police and ambulance came. That day was the turning point.
After hearing my life story so far the judge gave me a choice - the military or prison. Only one that would take me was the Royal Marines. They became my lifeline and I have loved every minute of it all. Today I have left the corps but is still a Marine in my heart. Today I´m a nature preserve supervisor and often takes young misfit on survival courses in the highlands.
After hearing my life story so far the judge gave me a choice - the military or prison. Only one that would take me was the Royal Marines. They became my lifeline and I have loved every minute of it all. Today I have left the corps but is still a Marine in my heart. Today I´m a nature preserve supervisor and often takes young misfit on survival courses in the highlands.
Capt Frogman
Brit Pack (Troop Commander)
That pretty much sums it up for me!
m551sheridan
Active member
The Highway Man
Brit Pack 2I/C
Same for me, I do work with a good bunch now and the banter is pretty much the same, I put that down to a large percentage of the lads being ex military.
42RM
Banned
sounds like the Marines are the Marines are the Marines, regardless of country
Brothers, all as one.
Capt Frogman
Brit Pack (Troop Commander)
sounds like the Marines are the Marines are the Marines, regardless of country
Obviously we know which one is USMC!
Clue - there's something on its head.
rattler
Active member
I joined very early 70s, for two reasons that made it the "optimal" idea:
- For one, I had always wanted to be a pilot in the carreer sense (started flying with 14) but my family could not afford paying for the cost of training to become a pro, and
- secondly, I had to go anyway as we had draft system: 24 month of your life time for ridiculous pay (then it was about 15$ a month IIRC), better to volunteer for 8 years, earn decently (500 $ a month right from start + an enlistment premium of another 7.500, really serious money at that time), get recognized and be allowed to select your field (air transport was my choice, officers carreer open to me for school background).
As I got grounded quite rapidly and unexpectedly after two years (having made it no further than RHS) for health reasons had to accept transfer to another service, it was only then that I "discovered" that I liked the idea of being on the NATO side of the Cold War for ideological reasons (and I was - and probably still am - a "Lefty"!).
FWIW,
Rattler
- For one, I had always wanted to be a pilot in the carreer sense (started flying with 14) but my family could not afford paying for the cost of training to become a pro, and
- secondly, I had to go anyway as we had draft system: 24 month of your life time for ridiculous pay (then it was about 15$ a month IIRC), better to volunteer for 8 years, earn decently (500 $ a month right from start + an enlistment premium of another 7.500, really serious money at that time), get recognized and be allowed to select your field (air transport was my choice, officers carreer open to me for school background).
As I got grounded quite rapidly and unexpectedly after two years (having made it no further than RHS) for health reasons had to accept transfer to another service, it was only then that I "discovered" that I liked the idea of being on the NATO side of the Cold War for ideological reasons (and I was - and probably still am - a "Lefty"!).
FWIW,
Rattler
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42RM
Banned
For me it was a combination of several things. My father was an officer in the Royal Navy, but my granddad was my main inspiration. He was a RM Commando officer in WWII. He was a good man with good morals. He taught me that in war it is important to have a heart. Show compassion and mercy wherever possible was his Ethos.
I became an officer because I´m a leader and because I love working with people from all parts of society. To educate young people so that they will grow up to be a benefit and not a burden to our society is my goal.
But it is also to serve and protect those who are not themselves able to do so, no matter what nation they´re from. I love the physical and mental challenge. I love the rugged nature. I love getting wet, tired, dirty, scared and I love the feeling of great joy when something is completed to my satisfaction. Yes, actually I love life so much that I am willing to put my life on the line so that you can live yours. It probably sounds like a cliché, but that´s how I feel.
To me being an RM officer means choosing the hard right over the easy wrong and protecting my Marines, training them and leading them is a lifelong challenge I look forward to every day. I´m proud to serve in the historic role of a Royal Marines Commando officer.
I became an officer because I´m a leader and because I love working with people from all parts of society. To educate young people so that they will grow up to be a benefit and not a burden to our society is my goal.
But it is also to serve and protect those who are not themselves able to do so, no matter what nation they´re from. I love the physical and mental challenge. I love the rugged nature. I love getting wet, tired, dirty, scared and I love the feeling of great joy when something is completed to my satisfaction. Yes, actually I love life so much that I am willing to put my life on the line so that you can live yours. It probably sounds like a cliché, but that´s how I feel.
To me being an RM officer means choosing the hard right over the easy wrong and protecting my Marines, training them and leading them is a lifelong challenge I look forward to every day. I´m proud to serve in the historic role of a Royal Marines Commando officer.